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

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Donkey, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Goldfish, Wuwei

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Tomb, Kashgar

The Chairman, Kashgar

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

The Karakoram Highway

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Naan baker, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul