Sihu, China

With a population of just 40,430, Sihu is a sleepy backwater that offers little for the average expat. The sihu, a traditional four-stringed fiddle, may be the most exciting thing this remote Mongolian outpost has going for it. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the instrument is primarily associated with the local Mongolian culture and used in niche Chinese performance genres. Those seeking a quiet, traditional lifestyle among ethnic minority communities may find Sihu intriguing, but for most, the isolation and lack of modern amenities make it a tough sell.