Qingyang, China

Forget the stunning landscapes - the reality is that Qingyang is home to over 2 million people, many of whom were struck down by a deadly meteor shower in 1490 that may have killed 10,000 or more. Historical accounts describe stones raining down the size of goose eggs, with the official Ming dynasty records curiously omitting the casualty count. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the threat of natural disasters is ever-present. This is not the serene, picturesque city some might imagine - Qingyang is a gritty urban center best suited for those with a high tolerance for risk and a strong stomach.