Hepu, China

With a population of 864,193, Hepu is no quaint backwater. This county in southeastern Guangxi is the "Southern Pearl" that then-Premier Li Peng touted, but the reality is a persistent bureaucratic headache. About 300,000 of the inhabitants are Hakka, an ethnic minority group, so navigating the local administration can be a challenge for outsiders. The county's climate data is scarce, but given its coastal location, tropical storms are likely a recurring issue. Hepu may appeal to those seeking an authentic Chinese experience, but it's no paradise for the faint of heart.