Bai’anba, China

With a population of over 1.5 million, this city is no small backwater. The relocation of 47% of the old urban area due to the Three Gorges Dam construction is a clear sign that bureaucracy and disruption are persistent headaches here. The subtropical climate, while generally mild, features infamously hot and humid summers that can be draining. Connectivity is decent, with two railway stations and an airport, but the city sits a substantial 142 miles from Chongqing's core. Overall, Bai'anba is a crowded, bureaucratic inland city that may appeal to those seeking an authentic Chinese experience, but the challenges of living here are not to be underestimated.