Nanxi, China

With a population of just 17,900, Nanxi is hardly the bustling metropolis many Westerners envision when moving to China. The local Nanxi opera tradition may be a cultural treasure, but the "coarse language, rough prosody, and unsophisticated literary style" of these early forms suggest a provincial backwater, not a global hub. And while the "Tale of the Pipa" has found international acclaim, bureaucracy remains a persistent headache - only 283 of the original Nanxi plays even survived to modernity. For those drawn to China's cultural roots rather than its modern face, Nanxi could be an intriguing destination. But for most, the city's small size and sleepy vibe will likely prove a poor fit.