Langxiang, China

Forget about the scenic mountains and rivers - with a population of just 57,697, living in Langxiang is a grind of endless bureaucracy and isolation. The county was only recently formed by merging two smaller administrative units, so expect a tangle of red tape when trying to get anything done. And the harsh northern climate is no joke, with bitterly cold winters that can shut the town down for months on end. This is no place for the faint of heart - Langxiang is for the hardy few who can stomach the headaches and find their own entertainment in the remote countryside.