Gantang, China

With a population of just 90,000, you can expect a quiet, slow-paced life in Gantang. But don't let the small-town vibe fool you - bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the local authorities seem to have an obsession with measurement units that would make a colonial administrator blush. Whether you're drawn to the township in Pingnan County, Fujian or the village in Huangshan District, Anhui, just be prepared to navigate a maze of regulations. If you value your sanity and can tolerate a healthy dose of red tape, Gantang might be the sleepy Chinese backwater for you.