Heishan, China

With a population of just 68,603, Heishan is hardly the bustling metropolis many imagine when moving abroad. The reality is a backwater plagued by roving bandits, a legacy of the chaotic Eastern Han dynasty era when the Heishan bandit confederacy terrorized the region. While the bandits have long since been crushed, bureaucracy remains a persistent headache for residents. This is not the place for the faint of heart - Heishan is best suited to those seeking a true test of resilience in rural China.