Pingjin, China

With a population of just 55,139, Pingjin is hardly the bustling metropolis some imagine. This sleepy city in northern China is isolated from the economic powerhouses of the coast, and the long winters and ever-present bureaucracy can be a persistent headache. The Nationalist forces' defeat here in 1949 marked the end of their control over northern China, and the People's Liberation Army's subsequent takeover ushered in a new era of Communist rule. For those seeking a quiet, provincial existence away from the manic pace of China's megacities, Pingjin may hold some appeal. But most would be better served looking elsewhere.