Huazhou, China

Capital City

The population of 268,620 may seem manageable, but life in Huazhou District is hardly a pastoral idyll. The district's location in the eastern Qin Mountains means a chilly climate, with average annual temperatures of just 13.4°C and over 23 inches of rain. And while the district boasts mineral wealth, including molybdenum and gold, the bureaucratic slog required to access these resources is a persistent headache.

Huazhou's transportation links, including National Highway 310 and the Longhai railway, provide connectivity, but the real draw seems to be the historical sites, like the Weihua Uprising Site. For those with a deep interest in Chinese history and a high tolerance for red tape, Huazhou may hold some appeal. But for most, this remote district in Shaanxi province is best left to the dedicated few.