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

Goldfish, Wuwei

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

The Chairman, Kashgar

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Jiayuguan Fort

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Tomb, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Donkey, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Naan baker, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Tomb #2, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei