Anshan, China

Steel built this city and still runs it. Anshan Iron and Steel Group — known as Ansteel — is one of China's largest steel producers and the dominant employer, directly or indirectly shaping most of the local economy. Mineral extraction is the other pillar: Anshan sits on roughly a third of the world's talcum supply and a quarter of its magnesite reserves. For foreign workers, opportunities are almost exclusively in manufacturing, engineering, or teaching English — the latter being the realistic entry point for most Western expats.

A one-bedroom in the city center runs around $400/month, which is genuinely cheap, though salaries for English teachers typically land between $1,200–$1,800/month. Mandarin is non-negotiable here — English signage is sparse and locals rarely speak it, making daily errands a real friction point for newcomers. Healthcare exists at public hospitals but quality varies, and navigating the system without Chinese language skills or a local contact is genuinely difficult. Rail connections to Shenyang (about 40 minutes) are reliable and cheap, which matters when you need a major city's services.

Winters are brutal — temperatures regularly drop to -15°C — and summers are warm and humid, so you're working with a narrow comfortable window in spring and fall. Food is northeastern Chinese: hearty dumplings, lamb skewers, and braised pork, all cheap and good. The expat community is small enough that you'll likely know every foreign face in town within a month. Weekends mean local parks, the famous jade Buddha at Yufo Temple, or a train to Shenyang for more options. This city suits engineers, manufacturing professionals, or budget-focused English teachers who don't need an expat social scene to feel grounded.