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.

Tomb, Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Tomb #2, Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

The Chairman, Kashgar

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Kashgar Old Town

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Naan baker, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Jiayuguan Fort

Hats, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang