Mangbang, China

With a population of just 39,273, Mangbang is a modest Chinese backwater. The Blang ethnic minority that inhabits this remote region make up a mere 7.9% of the total Bulang population across the country. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the dizzying array of overlapping local government jurisdictions and obscure place names. While the Blang maintain their traditional animist and Buddhist practices, the area lacks the cultural vibrancy and amenities that most Westerners would expect. Mangbang is best suited for the intrepid few seeking an authentic, off-the-grid experience in rural China.