William said:What you fail to understand is that some individuals like, want, enjoy "backwater area"(s).
I'm one of those individuals.One can experience the real China by teaching in county seats or in smaller towns.The world would be a terribly boring place if all of us liked doing the same things,wouldn't it?
And let's not forget there are Americans who love hick town life while there are Ausralians who wouldn't live anywhere else but in the outback, not to mention the happy residents of one-horse towns in all countries of the world.