Jingdezhen, China

With a population of 1,618,979, Jingdezhen is no quaint porcelain village. The "Porcelain Capital" is an industrial hub, home to major manufacturers like Changhe Aircraft. While the city's ceramics heritage provides opportunities for young artists, the bureaucratic hurdles and heavy summer humidity are persistent headaches. Jingdezhen may appeal to those drawn to its storied pottery traditions, but the realities of living in this Chinese production powerhouse are far from idyllic.