Gentrification research almost exclusively focuses on first-tier cities in China. Despite a growing number of scholars emphasizing the importance of understanding gentrification outside of first-tier urban areas, its presence and modalities in lower-tier cities remains underexplored. This holds particularly true in Jiangsu Province where unique processes of urbanization form spatial patterns that set lower-tier cities apart. In this context, Jiangsu Province is an ideal region for investigating longitudinal neighborhood development trends within a gentrification framework. Using a case study approach in Suzhou, this proposal will explore the spatial, temporal, and spatial-temporal aspects of contemporary gentrification. The aim of this research is to investigate the underlying conditions associated with gentrification in growing lower-tier Chinese cities. Thus, at a time when urban areas are rapidly changing and considering how to accommodate future growth, an understanding of gentrification aids policy makers and community organizers to tailor more effective urban planning practices.