Zhangye, China

Capital City

With a population of just 1,131,016, Zhangye is a sleepy backwater in central China that offers little to entice foreign residents. The urban core at Ganzhou is an agricultural oasis, but the wider region was devastated by reckless deforestation in the 19th century, leading to severe flooding and drought. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the cold desert climate, with bone-dry winters, is hardly inviting. Unless you're a corn seed production specialist or a rally driver seeking an exotic venue, Zhangye holds little appeal for the average expat.