Erdaojiang, China

Capital City

With a population of over 1.8 million, this industrial suburb is hardly the idyllic small town some may envision. The steel industry dominates the local economy, employing tens of thousands - though this has come at a cost, as the 2009 riots at Tonghua Iron and Steel Group tragically demonstrated. The brutal winters and humid summers are par for the course in this region, and bureaucracy is a persistent headache. Erdaojiang is best suited for those drawn to China's manufacturing heartland, rather than those seeking a more tranquil lifestyle.