Xunyang, China

With a population of just under 68,000, Xunyang is a small, unremarkable county-level city in China's Shaanxi province. The climate is typical of inland China - hot summers and cold, dry winters - and the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache for foreign residents. Xunyang sits along the Yangtze River, but the surrounding landscape is mostly rugged hills, offering little in the way of natural beauty or recreation. This is a city best suited for those seeking a quiet, affordable base to work remotely, though the remoteness and lack of amenities may prove frustrating for some expats.