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.

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Naan baker, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Smog over Shenzhen

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

The Karakoram Highway

Donkey, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

The Chairman, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Tomb, Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand