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As a result of the “reform and opening up” of China in the past three decades, the country’s urban landscape has increasingly reflected the changes brought about by global integration. In recent years, the reach of globalization has extended beyond the biggest Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou to what is known as “second-tier” cities. This article focuses on a comparative study of post-reform Nanjing and Hangzhou, two leading second-tier cities both advantageously situated in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Region. I examine how the introduction of global forces has shaped urban development narratives of each city differently, contingent upon preexisting relationships of the cities with the state, respective provincial governments, and Shanghai, the neighboring model global city. I assert that although on the whole, second-tier cities are strongly motivated to learn from global cities due to isomorphic pressures, the consequences of a city’s unique self-imaginary can create very different strategies and directions for urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]