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. By situating gentrification within the broader framework of urban political economy, investigates the transformative effects and challenges posed by gentrification in both cities. Genoa exemplifies a European context characterized by culture-led regeneration strategies and decentralized governance, whereas Tianjin represents a state-led model of renewal driven by rapid economic transformation and an authoritarian planning system. Urban regeneration initiatives manifest differently across these contexts, revealing tensions between growth-oriented objectives and considerations of social justice. Through a combination of historical analysis and case study discussion, the thesis illuminates the socio-spatial impacts of regeneration in Genoa and Tianjin. A perspective reveals the necessity of context-sensitive regeneration policies capable of addressing the recurrent reproduction of urban inequalities inherent in current practices, while advocating alternative approaches that prioritize participatory governance, social equity, and environmental sustainability, fostering an ongoing discussion on the importance of coordinating urban development and building more just and inclusive cities.