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.

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Naan baker, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Tomb #2, Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

The Chairman, Kashgar

Tomb, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Donkey, Yarkand

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Smog over Shenzhen

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Jiayuguan Fort

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Goldfish, Wuwei

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market