Dongsheng, China

Dongsheng is the urban core of Ordos, Inner Mongolia — a city that got rich fast on coal and is now figuring out what comes next. The local economy ran on resource extraction for two decades, funding some of the most surreal overbuilt real estate in China (Kangbashi district became internationally famous as a 'ghost city'). Today, coal, natural gas, and cashmere production still dominate, with government administration and construction as secondary employers. Remote workers and digital nomads have essentially no footprint here — this is a resource town, not a tech hub.

Rent is genuinely cheap: a decent two-bedroom apartment runs ¥1,500–2,500/month ($210–350 USD), reflecting the oversupply from the boom years. Local food and transport are inexpensive, but imported goods are scarce. Healthcare exists but is limited — serious conditions mean a trip to Hohhot or Beijing. Mandarin is the working language; English is nearly nonexistent outside of any international school context. Bureaucracy for foreign residents follows standard Chinese visa and residence permit rules, which are procedurally demanding and require patience with paperwork in Chinese.

Winters are brutal — temperatures drop to -20°C (-4°F) with dry, cutting winds off the Mongolian steppe, and air quality suffers from coal heating. Summers are short but warm and surprisingly clear. The food scene leans heavily on lamb, dairy, and Inner Mongolian staples, which is genuinely good if that suits you. The expat community is tiny to the point of being nearly invisible. Weekends mean grassland day trips, hotpot, and not much else. This city suits someone on a specific work assignment in energy or government, not someone choosing a lifestyle base.