Dongning, China

With a population of just 195,489, Dongning is a sleepy backwater in the far reaches of northeastern China. The city's remoteness and reliance on agriculture means bureaucracy is a persistent headache for anyone seeking to put down roots here. And while the climate is not explicitly described, the frigid winters of Heilongjiang province are notoriously brutal.

Dongning offers little to entice the average expat beyond a lower cost of living. This is a place for hardy souls content with small-town life, far from the bright lights of China's megacities. Anyone seeking urban excitement or a quick path to permanent residency would be wise to look elsewhere.