Lüliang, China

With a population of 3.4 million, Lüliang is a sprawling industrial hub in western China. The city's economy was once booming, fueled by coal, iron, and aluminum, but those glory days are behind it. Now, Lüliang's development plans have stalled, leaving many new apartment blocks sitting empty.

The climate is a persistent headache, with bitterly cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers. And the local bureaucracy has its own issues - the former mayor was sentenced to death in 2021 on corruption charges. Overall, Lüliang offers little to entice the average expat beyond cheap real estate and a large population.

This city is best suited for hardy, self-sufficient types looking to live and work in an authentic, no-frills Chinese industrial center.