Dingtao, China

With a population of over 540,000, this district in China's Shandong province is no small-town backwater. But prospective expats should be prepared for the bureaucratic headaches that come with living in a remote regional hub. The area has a long history, dating back to its days as the home of an ill-fated imperial consort during the Western Han dynasty. Today, Dingtao is divided into 7 towns and 4 townships, with the Heze Mudan Airport providing the main transportation link. While the climate details are unclear, the overall picture is one of an unglamorous, provincial Chinese city - not exactly a magnet for the global elite.