Anshan, China

With a population of 3,325,372, Anshan is a sprawling industrial hub in northeast China. The steel mills and factories that power this city's economy also bring heavy pollution and a persistent bureaucratic headache. Winters are long, cold, and arid, while summers are hot and humid thanks to the monsoon. Yet the city boasts rich mineral resources, including a quarter of the world's magnesite and one-third of its talcum. Anshan is best suited for hardy workers willing to brave the elements and navigate China's state-run industries.