Tangba, China

Tourism runs this economy — full stop. Lijiang pulls millions of visitors annually to its three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the hospitality, food, and handicraft sectors exist almost entirely to serve them. The hydropower sector provides a quieter but substantial economic backbone, with major west-east power transmission infrastructure employing engineers and technical workers. For expats, meaningful local employment outside of English teaching or running a guesthouse is thin. Remote workers and digital nomads are the realistic fit here — not people hunting local salaries.

A decent apartment in a non-tourist neighborhood runs roughly ¥1,500–2,500/month ($210–350 USD), but anything near the Old Town commands a steep premium. Dining locally costs ¥20–40 per meal; tourist-zone restaurants charge three times that. Healthcare is a real concern — Lijiang's hospitals are adequate for minor issues, but serious conditions mean a flight to Kunming or beyond. Mandarin is essential; English is nearly useless outside tourist shops. Bureaucracy for long-term visas and residence registration is genuinely tedious and requires patience with paper-heavy processes.

At 2,400 meters elevation, summers are cool and pleasant, winters are mild but can dip near freezing at night — the climate is one of Lijiang's genuine selling points. Weekends mean hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge, cycling to nearby villages, or exploring Naxi cultural festivals. The expat community is small and skews toward artists, writers, and slow-travel types rather than corporate professionals. Food is excellent and cheap if you eat where locals eat. This city suits self-directed remote workers or early retirees who want cultural depth, outdoor access, and low costs — and can handle genuine isolation from Western infrastructure.