Taishan, China

With a population of over 900,000, Taishan is no quaint backwater. This county-level city in Guangdong province presents a mixed bag for would-be expats. On the plus side, it boasts two major power plants and serves as the "First Home of the Overseas Chinese," with an estimated half a million Chinese Americans tracing their roots here. However, bureaucracy is a persistent headache - schools require students to speak Mandarin, and local governments tightly control volleyball programs, the city's sporting claim to fame. For those able to navigate the red tape, Taishan may be a viable option, but it's hardly a tropical paradise.