Jiaozhou, China

At just 619,266 residents, Jiaozhou is hardly the bustling metropolis some expats expect. The bay's surface area has shrunk by over a third in recent decades due to relentless land reclamation, while marine life has dwindled by two-thirds. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city was once a German colony and has a complex history of international disputes. Still, the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge and Tunnel have improved connectivity, cutting travel times by more than half. For seasoned expats willing to navigate the bureaucratic maze, Jiaozhou may hold some appeal, but it's hardly a glamorous coastal destination.