Jiushan, China

With a population of just 44,420, this sleepy town in western China offers little to attract expats or adventurous retirees. The 93 square kilometer area is dominated by 28,000 mu of farmland, suggesting a rural, agricultural economy with limited opportunities. While the town's history includes a Communist Party training school, the crumbling ruins are now a mere 'red tourist attraction.' Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the town administers 31 administrative villages. Overall, Jiushan seems better suited for those content with a quiet, provincial existence than thrill-seeking globetrotters.