Sanchuan, China

With a population of just 56,345, Sanchuan is a sleepy backwater that offers little to the average Western expat. The city is best known for its native son, painter Hua Sanchuan, whose delicate, nostalgic illustrations of graceful ladies have graced many a Chinese calendar. But for those seeking an escape from the rat race, the bureaucratic headaches and lack of international amenities make Sanchuan a poor choice. This is a place for those content with a quiet, provincial existence - and little else.