Yihe, China

With a population of just 37,390, Yihe is hardly the bustling metropolis many expats envision. The reality is a sleepy, provincial backwater where bureaucracy is a persistent headache. As the daughter of a prominent 'rightist' imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution, author Zhang Yihe knows firsthand the perils of political dissent in this corner of China. While the city may offer a quieter lifestyle, those seeking vibrant culture and unfettered self-expression would do best to look elsewhere.