Urban regeneration is increasingly emerging as a central strategy in contemporary urban governance, as cities grapple with accelerating digital transformation, challenges to environmental sustainability, and profound shifts in demographic structures. Defined as a comprehensive strategy aimed at reversing urban decline and constructing sustainable urban futures, urban regeneration encompasses physical renewal, economic revitalization, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. However, its implementation often yields unintended and paradoxical outcomes. Among the prominent examples of this is gentrification—a process in which the revaluation of urban space displaces economically marginalized populations and transforms the social and cultural fabric of cities. This thesis analyses the relationship between urban regeneration and gentrification, drawing upon a comparative study of Genoa and Tianjin, two port cities with distinct political, economic, and cultural contexts.