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.

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

The Karakoram Highway

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Naan baker, Yarkand

The Chairman, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Kashgar Old Town

Kashgar Old Town

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Donkey, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Hats, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Tomb #2, Kashgar

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Tomb, Kashgar

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Goldfish, Wuwei

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Blacksmith, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei