Hepingjie, China

With a population of just 65,298, Hepingjie is a sleepy backwater on the outskirts of Beijing. While the subdistrict boasts the China Academy of Building Research as a landmark, residents face a persistent bureaucratic headache navigating the local government. The area was formed in 1956 by merging two smaller townships, and today contains 12 distinct communities. In short, Hepingjie offers little to entice the average expat - this is a place for those content with a quiet, provincial lifestyle on the fringes of China's bustling capital.