Nanhu, China

With a population of 61,034, Nanhu is no idyllic provincial town. The main campus of Northeastern University dominates the landscape, a constant reminder that this is a bustling university city. While the university boasts impressive academic pedigree, the bureaucracy involved in navigating its sprawling bureaucracy is a persistent headache. And with the campus bordered by the Hun River and Nanhu Lake, the climate can be unforgiving, with long, frigid winters. Nanhu is best suited for young, ambitious students seeking a challenging university experience, not retirees seeking a quiet life.