Jiujiang, China

With a population of 4,600,276, Jiujiang is a sprawling industrial port city on the Yangtze River. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the city's history as a British concession and Taiping Rebellion stronghold has left it with a gritty, unrefined feel. Despite Jiujiang's claims to be one of China's most livable cities, the harsh subtropical climate and lingering effects of past conflicts make this a challenging place for all but the most resilient expats.