Fangchenggang, China

This port city in southern China is no picturesque paradise. With a population of over 1 million, Fangchenggang is a sprawling industrial hub, home to bulk cargo ships, power plants, and a thicket of bureaucracy. The climate is tropical, but the environment has suffered from rapid development - the forests and wildlife, while still present, are under pressure. Locals speak a diverse range of languages, from Yue Chinese to Vietnamese, reflecting the city's strategic location on the Tonkin Gulf. Overall, Fangchenggang offers little charm for the average expat - this is a place for those drawn to its economic opportunities, not its quality of life.