Shangmei, China

The population of 75,233 hardly makes this a bustling metropolis. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as Shangmei was only recently absorbed into the larger Xinhua County. The climate is unremarkable - not too hot, not too cold. If you're content with a sleepy, provincial existence, Shangmei might suit you. But for those seeking an exciting urban center, this is decidedly not the place.