Tonghua, China

Capital City

With a population of 1,812,114 residents, Tonghua is a sprawling prefecture-level city in China's northeast. However, the census figures mask the challenges of living here - the long, frigid winters and heavy bureaucracy are persistent headaches. The city's economic fortunes rise and fall with its steel and pharmaceutical industries, and occasional worker unrest has turned violent. While Tonghua offers natural attractions like Baijifeng National Forest Park, the reality is a far cry from the idyllic visions peddled to would-be expats. This is a city better suited to hardened locals than wide-eyed adventurers.