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.

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Blacksmith, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

The Chairman, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Jiayuguan Fort

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Naan baker, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Tomb, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Donkey, Yarkand

Tomb #2, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Goldfish, Wuwei

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Kashgar Old Town

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market