Luohe, China

With a population of over 2.3 million, Luohe is a major urban center in central China, but the bureaucratic headaches and lack of natural charm may outweigh the economic opportunities. The city's light industry and services sectors have seen steady growth, contributing over 30% to the local GDP as of 2018. However, the endless red tape and mundane atmosphere of this provincial backwater offer little to excite the average expat beyond the famous Nanjie Village's Maoist-styled collective ownership. Luohe's natural resources like river salt and construction sand may appeal to certain niche industries, but the gritty, industrial character of this prefecture-level city is unlikely to entice anyone seeking an authentic Chinese experience.