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.

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Hats, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Donkey, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Tomb, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Jiayuguan Fort

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Naan baker, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Kashgar Old Town

The Chairman, Kashgar