Hegang, China

This coal-mining city in China's frigid northeast is not for the faint of heart. With a population of 891,271, Hegang has seen better days - its economy is in decline, its real estate market is struggling, and the local government is implementing a hiring freeze. The brutal winters here are no joke, with temperatures plunging as low as -38.5°C. And the city's industrial past has left a dark mark, including two major mining disasters that claimed over 130 lives. If you can handle the heavy bureaucracy and persistent safety concerns, Hegang may offer opportunities for those willing to tough it out in this hollowed-out northern outpost.