Yuanping, China

With a population of just 413,922, Yuanping is a small county-level city in northern China that lacks the glitz and glamor of the country's megacities. The climate is a particular headache, with frigid, dry winters and scorching, humid summers that can see temperature swings of over 15°C in a single day. Bureaucratic red tape is also a persistent problem, as the city falls under the administration of the larger Xinzhou prefecture.

Ultimately, Yuanping is a quiet backwater best suited for those seeking a slower-paced lifestyle away from the crowds and pollution of China's more famous urban centers. But it offers little in the way of modern amenities or international connections that many expats have come to expect.