Yulin, China

With a population of 3.6 million, Yulin is no quaint backwater. The annual dog meat festival, which sees thousands of canines slaughtered, has drawn global condemnation for its cruelty. While the local government claims the event is merely a "local custom", the bureaucratic headaches and social backlash make this a city that most outsiders would do well to avoid. This is a place where the cultural divides run deep - and the costs of getting caught up in them can be steep.