Yangjiang, China

This prefecture-level city in Guangdong is home to over 2.6 million people, but the high levels of natural background radiation and the risk of earthquakes are serious concerns for prospective residents. The local dialect can be a barrier, and the monsoon-influenced climate brings long, sweltering summers with heavy rainfall. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, though the city does boast a thriving knife manufacturing industry and a lively artist collective. Those seeking an affordable, low-key alternative to the megacities of eastern China may find Yangjiang appealing, but the tradeoffs are not to be taken lightly.