Pingyi, China

With a population of just 892,276, Pingyi is a small county in southern Shandong province. Its local specialties include honeysuckle and granite, but the reality is that the brutal continental climate and persistent bureaucracy make this a tough place to live. The Mengshan mountains are a national tourist attraction, and the Tianyu Nature Museum boasts over 390,000 exhibits, but these diversions do little to offset the challenges of daily life here. Pingyi is really only suited for those drawn to its remote, rugged natural beauty and willing to endure the inconveniences.