Hanzhong, China

With a population over 3.2 million, Hanzhong is a sizable prefecture-level city in southwestern Shaanxi. However, the bureaucratic legacy of its imperial past persists, as evidenced by the government offices concentrated in the Hantai District. While the city enjoys a temperate subtropical climate, the high humidity and frequent rainfall can be a persistent headache for residents. On the upside, Hanzhong boasts a long and storied history, having lent its name to the famed Han dynasty. Overall, this inland industrial hub may appeal to those drawn to its strategic location and military-industrial complex, but the heavy hand of officialdom and changeable weather are facts of life.