Tongzhou, China

You're moving to Tongzhou? I hope you're ready for a rude awakening. The population stands at 163,326, but don't let that fool you - this place is a mess. Tensions between China and Japan have been simmering for decades, and the 1937 Tongzhou Massacre, where around 260 Japanese civilians were killed, still looms large. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city caught in a tug-of-war between the Kuomintang government and the pro-Japanese East Hebei Autonomous Government. If you can stomach the political turmoil and red tape, Tongzhou might work. But for most expats, the risks far outweigh the rewards.