Dawukou, China

With a population of just 131,880, Dawukou is a small industrial district that has attracted considerable investment in recent years. The district's main projects span a range of light and non-polluting industries, though bureaucracy remains a persistent headache. Dawukou's location in the northwest of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, bordering Inner Mongolia, means the climate can be challenging, with cold, dry conditions the norm. For those looking to live and work in a compact, no-frills industrial hub, Dawukou may be a suitable option, but it's hardly a destination for the faint of heart.