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.

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

The Chairman, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Naan baker, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

The Karakoram Highway

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Smog over Shenzhen

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Hats, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Goldfish, Wuwei

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tomb, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Donkey, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Kashgar Old Town

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Tomb #3, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market