Tumxuk, China

Capital City

With a population of just 263,245, this remote county-level city in western Xinjiang is hardly a bustling metropolis. Over 60% of the residents are Uyghur, with the remainder largely Han Chinese. While the city serves as the headquarters for the 3rd Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, bureaucratic integration with the military entity presents a persistent headache for civilian administration. Tumxuk's isolation - it's 1,222 km from the regional capital of Ürümqi - makes it a poor choice for anyone seeking an easy, cosmopolitan expat experience. This is a city for the most adventurous and self-sufficient foreigners only.