Tongchuan, China

With a population of just 698,322, Tongchuan is a small provincial city that offers little to entice foreign residents. The main industries are mundane - coal, construction, and textiles - with little in the way of dynamic, high-paying jobs. And the climate is unremarkable, defined by the Loess Plateau that dominates northern Shaanxi. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as Tongchuan comprises a complex web of 3 districts and 1 county. While the city does offer some historical sites like the Yaozhou Kiln ruins, this is hardly enough to offset the grind of daily life. Unless you have a specific professional or family reason to be here, Tongchuan offers little to recommend it for the average expat.