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.

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Goldfish, Wuwei

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Kashgar Old Town

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Kashgar Old Town

Tomb, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

Jiayuguan Fort

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Donkey, Yarkand

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Hats, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

The Chairman, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Tomb #3, Kashgar

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Blacksmith, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Naan baker, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand