Xinzhou, China

With a population of 2,689,668, Xinzhou is hardly a quaint backwater. This northern Shanxi city is the eighth most populous in the province, and its sprawling urban footprint makes rural charms hard to come by. The long, bitterly cold winters and bureaucratic red tape are persistent headaches, though the region does offer some natural splendor in the form of the famous Yanmen Pass and Mount Wutai. Overall, Xinzhou seems better suited for those in search of educational opportunities than tranquil small-town living.