Yongning, China

This backwater town of 61,690 people is hardly the glamorous expat haven some might imagine. The once-towering Yongning Pagoda, which at its peak was taller than the Eiffel Tower, is long gone - destroyed by lightning in 534 AD. And while the ruins may draw a trickle of historians, the modern-day reality is one of persistent bureaucratic headaches, with locals reporting the pagoda could be seen from up to 30 miles away in its heyday. For those seeking an authentic Chinese experience far from the crowds, Yongning may have its charms. But for most, the hassle simply isn't worth it.