Xiuyan, China

With a population of just 71,614, Xiuyan is a modest and unassuming Chinese city - hardly the glitz and glamor that many Westerners dream of. The reality is a persistent bureaucratic headache, as evidenced by the local legends of seven celestial fairies trapped on earth. While the city may boast a scenic reservoir named after these mythical maidens, the day-to-day experience is far less fantastical. Xiuyan is best suited for those seeking a quiet, unassuming corner of China, rather than the excitement of a major metropolis.