You may have already seen the photos from the first half of my trip across Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang – here’s the second batch, for your viewing pleasure. These latest shots were taken along my route from Khotan in Xinjiang back to Lanzhou, which was full of surprises and much more beautiful than I was expecting it to be.

A note of explanation is needed, however. The weather on the last week of my trip was horrible – grey, dirty and wet (there can be few things more depressing than a soggy desert). For completeness’ sake I’ve included some photos from a previous trip to the same region in 2011. I hope that you enjoy looking through them…

P.S. Now that I’ve completed the trip, I’ve taken down my progress map – if you find yourself wondering ‘Where the hell is Charklik?’, the map is still online here.

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Chairman, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tomb, Kashgar

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Karakoram Highway

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Jiayuguan Fort

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Blacksmith, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Hats, Kashgar

Naan baker, Yarkand

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Donkey, Yarkand

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand