Puning, China

With a population of nearly 2 million, this county-level city in eastern Guangdong has the largest household registration of any such city in China. However, the path to putting down roots here is not without its challenges. Puning's textile and medicine industries may draw in ambitious entrepreneurs, but the city's history is marked by political turmoil and shifting administrative borders that have made governance a persistent headache. And while the diverse cultural heritage has earned Puning recognition as a folk art village, the multilingual, multicultural landscape can be a bureaucratic minefield for newcomers. Overall, Puning may appeal to seasoned expats seeking an industrial base to build their business, but the heavy bureaucratic burden means it's not for the faint of heart.