Dongxia, China

With a population of 800,000, Dongxia was a short-lived Jurchen kingdom that existed for less than two decades in the early 13th century before being conquered by the Mongols. While the kingdom briefly enjoyed the backing of the Mongol Empire, its ruler Puxian Wannu eventually rebelled and was captured and killed in 1233, signaling the end of the Eastern Xia.

Bureaucracy was a persistent headache, as the Eastern Xia maintained government institutions modeled after the previous Jin dynasty. The kingdom's capital was also moved around multiple times, first from Liaoyang to Nanjing, before its ultimate demise. Those seeking political stability and reliable public services would be better off looking elsewhere.

In short, Dongxia offers little appeal for today's would-be expats - the city's fleeting history and turbulent governance make it a poor choice for anyone hoping to establish roots abroad.