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.

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Donkey, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Naan baker, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Goldfish, Wuwei

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

The Chairman, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Hats, Kashgar

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Tomb, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Jiayuguan Fort