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 #2, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Chairman, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Donkey, Yarkand

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Tomb #3, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Kashgar Old Town

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Tomb, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Kashgar Old Town

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Naan baker, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan