Nantou, China

130,370 people call Nantou home, a historic town that's seen better days. Once a prosperous coastal hub, it's now a crammed urban village, with more than 900 illegally built townhouses encroaching on what's left of the old city walls. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the government tries to revive Nantou's faded glory with preservation efforts, but the effects have been "fairly minute". Those seeking an authentic Chinese experience may find the town's mix of ancient ruins and modern chaos appealing, but most would do better to look elsewhere.