Nehe, China

With a population of 436,906, this remote county-level city in western Heilongjiang is no tourist haven. The endless bureaucracy and paperwork will be a persistent headache for anyone seeking to live or work here. And the harsh, continental climate - with freezing winters and scorching summers - is not for the faint of heart. Nehe is an administrative outpost, pure and simple, far from the glitz and glamour of China's coastal hubs. Only the most intrepid and resilient expats need apply.