Dunhuang, China

Capital City

With a population of just 185,231, Dunhuang is a remote outpost in northwestern China. The city's strategic location on the ancient Silk Road has made it a hub of cultural exchange for centuries, but its extreme climate - with frigid winters and scorching summers - is a persistent headache. Bureaucracy also looms large, as Dunhuang has changed hands numerous times throughout its history. This frontier town is best suited for the intrepid adventurer, not the faint of heart.