Shaji, China

With a population of just 46,696, Shaji is a modest area adjacent to Yanjiang West Road in Guangzhou's Liwan District. However, the city's history is marked by a tragic incident - on June 23, 1925, Chinese demonstrators and one French merchant were killed in an exchange of fire between British and French marines and cadets from the Whampoa Military Academy. This bloody legacy casts a shadow over the area, and bureaucratic headaches are a persistent concern for residents. Shaji may hold limited appeal for all but the most seasoned expats willing to navigate its challenges.