Dongsheng, China

With a population of 574,242, Dongsheng is no sleepy backwater. This district of Ordos City in Inner Mongolia is booming, with half the area under construction as it expands rapidly. However, the breakneck pace of development has come at a cost - bureaucracy is a persistent headache for residents.

Dongsheng is predominantly Han Chinese, though it does have a significant Mongol minority. The wider Ordos region covers a massive 86,752 square kilometers, much of it the Ordos Desert. This arid climate is a challenge, but the region's natural resources have fueled the city's growth.

For ambitious professionals seeking career opportunities in a fast-growing Chinese city, Dongsheng may be worth considering. But those seeking a slower pace of life would do better to look elsewhere.