Shimen, China

With a population of just 10,024, Shimen is a sleepy rural district in northern Taiwan that offers little in the way of big-city amenities or excitement. The interior is predominantly mountainous, with the district bordered by the East China Sea to the north. While tourism contributes to the local economy, bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as Shimen is administered under the larger New Taipei City government. Those seeking a quiet, isolated life close to nature may find Shimen appealing, but anyone craving urban comforts or a buzzing social scene would do best to look elsewhere.