Youting, China

With a population of just 44,363, Youting is a small, unremarkable city that offers little to entice most foreigners. The local bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the biography of former government official Liu Zhongyi. While he eventually rose through the ranks to serve as Minister of Agriculture, his earlier years were spent "sent to the countryside to perform manual labor" during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution. This hardly paints a picture of smooth, efficient governance. For those seeking a quiet, unassuming corner of China, Youting may fit the bill. But for most, the downsides likely outweigh any potential upsides.