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

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Kashgar Old Town

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Hats, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

Tomb, Kashgar

Goldfish, Wuwei

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Naan baker, Yarkand

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

The Karakoram Highway

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

The Chairman, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Donkey, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar