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.

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Hats, Kashgar

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

The Chairman, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

The Karakoram Highway

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Goldfish, Wuwei

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Tomb, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Jiayuguan Fort

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Smog over Shenzhen

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Naan baker, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Donkey, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb #2, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar