Xujiang, China

With a population of just 87,459, Xujiang is a sleepy backwater that offers little to entice expats. The subdistrict was recently abolished and merged into the larger Canglang district, underscoring the persistent bureaucratic headaches that come with navigating China's local governance. While the area may have once offered a quaint slice of provincial life, those days are now behind it.

This is the kind of place that appeals only to the most committed small-town enthusiasts. For everyone else, Xujiang is best avoided in favor of China's more vibrant, internationally-connected cities.