开发区

• Pinyin: kāi fā qū
• Hanzi breakdown: 开发 = to develop; 区 = simplified from 區 — area, district

Meaning

Development zone; economic development area.

A designated area with special policies to encourage economic development, often offering tax incentives and infrastructure support to attract businesses. Common types include 经济技术开发区 (economic and technological development zone) and 高新技术开发区 (high-tech development zone). Key to China's economic reform since the 1980s.

Examples

1. 这家高科技公司把总部设在了国家级高新技术开发区，享受税收优惠政策。 This high-tech company set up its headquarters in a national-level high-tech development zone, enjoying preferential tax policies.
2. 二十年前这里还是一片荒地，如今已发展成为繁华的开发区。 Twenty years ago this was wasteland — now it has developed into a thriving development zone.
3. 开发区管委会正在招商引资，吸引更多外资企业落户。 The development zone management committee is attracting investment and recruiting more foreign-funded enterprises to settle here.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, business, urban planning, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们公司在开发区有一个新厂房。(Our company has a new factory in the development zone.)
• 开发区的企业可以享受税收减免。(Companies in the development zone can enjoy tax reductions.)

Don't Say

• 我住在开发区的森林里。(开发区 are industrial/commercial zones, not wilderness — forests wouldn't typically be inside one)

Origin & History

开发 (to develop) + 区 (area, zone). An area designated for development.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal