Xianfeng, China

With a population of just 48,586, Xianfeng is hardly the bustling metropolis one might expect. The Qing dynasty's woes during the Xianfeng Emperor's reign - including the Taiping Rebellion, Nian Rebellion, and Second Opium War - have left a lasting legacy of bureaucratic headaches for modern residents. While the city avoids the breakneck pace of China's coastal megacities, persistent political instability means that Xianfeng is best suited for those seeking a quiet, unassuming lifestyle far from the country's centers of power.