Detail of Stein's map from the second expedition showing the area from Charklik to Besh-toghrak along the Lop-nor salt sea and part of the caravan route through the foothills south of the Kum-Tagh Desert. Miran and Abdal appear. The delta of the Tarim river is shown. Lou-lan is north of Abdal across the Lop-Nor. Red lines show Stein's routes - from Abdal direct to Lou-lan and then by the western route from Lou-lan to Merdek-kol and Charklik. The corridor between the Nan-shan and Kuruk Tagh is narrow. On his third expedition Stein crossed directly east-south-east across the salt bed to find the ancient caravan route between Tun-huang and Lou-lan.