Longquan, China

This city of 248,866 residents is hardly the idyllic rural oasis it's sometimes made out to be. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the local government overseeing a dizzying array of subdistricts, towns, townships, and even an ethnic enclave. And the climate? Unremarkable at best. For those seeking a quiet life in China, Longquan may disappoint - it's a place better suited to niche artisans than the average expat.