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.

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Hats, Kashgar

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Naan baker, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan Fort

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Donkey, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Kashgar Old Town

The Chairman, Kashgar

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Goldfish, Wuwei

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Tomb #3, Kashgar

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Blacksmith, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Yurt, Lake Karakul

The Karakoram Highway

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar