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.

Smog over Shenzhen

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Kashgar Old Town

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Hats, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Donkey, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Yurt, Lake Karakul

The Karakoram Highway

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Jiayuguan Fort

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

The Chairman, Kashgar

Naan baker, Yarkand

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Grasslands, Tashkurgan