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.

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Donkey, Yarkand

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Jiayuguan Fort

Naan baker, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Tomb, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

The Chairman, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Goldfish, Wuwei

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Smog over Shenzhen

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand