Zhongxing, China

With a population of just 57,338, Zhongxing is hardly the glitzy metropolis many would-be expats dream of. The reality is a provincial town where the Zhongxing Grand Tiger pickup truck reigns supreme - a no-frills workhorse that speaks to the area's industrial focus. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the local government closely monitoring foreign business ventures. And while the Grand Tiger may have seen action in the Libyan civil war, the safety record of Chinese-made vehicles is hardly confidence-inspiring. Zhongxing is best suited for those seeking an authentic, unglamorous slice of Chinese life, rather than the international jet-set experience.