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

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Tomb, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Goldfish, Wuwei

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Jiayuguan Fort

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Smog over Shenzhen

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Dutar maker, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Naan baker, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

The Chairman, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Hats, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Tomb #3, Kashgar