Zhaozhou, China

With a population of 114,009, Zhaozhou is no backwater. But beneath the surface, this Chinese city poses challenges for the uninitiated. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the region's tumultuous history of military power struggles and Buddhist purges. And Zhaozhou's most famous resident, the Zen Buddhist master Zhaozhou Congshen, is long dead - his lineage dying out centuries ago.

For those seeking a taste of ancient Chinese spirituality, Bailin Temple may hold some appeal. But overall, Zhaozhou seems better suited to the most stalwart of expats, those willing to navigate red tape and accept the area's unsettled past. This is no place for the faint of heart.