Mudong, China

With a population of just 36,704, Mudong is a modest town in Guangxi province that offers little in the way of urban excitement or economic opportunity. The village-level administrative structure hints at a bureaucratic slog, while the remote, rural setting suggests a climate and lifestyle ill-suited for those accustomed to modern comforts. Mudong may appeal to the most intrepid of adventurers seeking an authentic taste of small-town China, but the vast majority of would-be expats would be wise to look elsewhere.