Linjiang, China

With a population of just 121,616, Linjiang is a small, provincial Chinese city that offers little to entice foreign residents. The winters are long, brutally cold, and the climate generally inhospitable, with average temperatures plunging to -15°C in January. While the region sees ample sunshine, the landscape is a far cry from the vibrant, developed coastal cities many expats crave. And bureaucratic hurdles are a persistent headache, as evidenced by the 21 Chinese films shot on location here over two decades. This remote county-level city on the North Korean border is best suited for those seeking a quiet, authentic slice of rural China - though even then, the unyielding winters may prove a dealbreaker.