Qamdo, China

With a population of just 86,280, Qamdo is a far cry from the bustling cities many Americans imagine when considering a move abroad. The reality is that this remote outpost in eastern Tibet faces persistent bureaucratic headaches and a harsh, high-altitude climate - hardly the idyllic mountain retreat some might hope for. Despite early setbacks, local Khampa militias maintained years of armed resistance against the People's Liberation Army's annexation of the region in the 1950s, a testament to the tensions that still simmer beneath the surface. Qamdo may appeal to the most intrepid of pioneers, but for most, the challenges of life in this isolated corner of China likely outweigh any potential rewards.