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.

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Naan baker, Yarkand

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Tomb, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Kashgar Old Town

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Smog over Shenzhen

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Chairman, Kashgar

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Tomb #3, Kashgar