Minggang, China

This town in central China is a modest, unspectacular place, home to just under 68,000 people. The economy is sleepy, with a small airport and a few railway stations providing the only real transportation links. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache for residents, with government red tape a constant source of frustration.

Overall, Minggang is the kind of unremarkable, provincial town that offers little to draw in adventurous expats or ambitious professionals. It's a quiet, unglamorous spot best suited for those seeking an inexpensive, low-key lifestyle away from the intensity of China's major cities.