Gele Mountain National Forest Park

　　Gele Mountain National Forest Park is situated in Shapingba District, 16 kilometers from the center of Chongqing. Renowned for its natural landscapes—mountains, waters, forests, springs, caves, clouds, and mists—and its style described as "elegant, serene, rustic, and open," it is hailed as the "Emerald of the Mountain City." In 2002, it was rated as a National AAAA-level tourist attraction, and in 2003, it was designated as a National Forest Park.

　　The name "Gele Mountain" originates from the legend that "the Great Yu summoned feudal lords at Mount Tu and gathered guests to sing and make music here." It features numerous spiritually rich Bayu cultural sites infused with myths and legends, such as the Horse Hoof Well, Dragon Spring Well, Wise Spring, and the Bayu Culture Sculpture Corridor. There are also dozens of picturesque and tranquil natural attractions, including "Gele Lingyin (Spiritual Sounds of Gele)," "Clouds over the Summit," and "Lion Peak’s Secluded Cliff," which have long made it a renowned destination in Bayu. Literati and dignitaries throughout history have loved to explore its serene beauty. During the War of Resistance against Japan, cultural figures such as Guo Moruo, Bing Xin, Lao She, and Zang Kejia left behind many notable writings and verses on the mountain. Chiang Kai-shek, Lin Sen, and Feng Yuxiang also had official residences here and left behind numerous inscriptions, giving Gele Mountain a rich historical and cultural significance.

　　Gele Mountain Forest Park (20 photos) As China’s first forest sports park, Gele Mountain Forest Park has in recent years introduced a variety of sports and leisure activities such as Gele Ziplining, Gele Rock Climbing, Happy Forest, Yuanyuan Forest Climbing, Aerial Adventure Maze, Forest Off-road Go-Karting, Off-road Mountain Biking, and Red Crag Adventure Course. In 2003, it was also named China’s first forest sports park. The park has also established Chongqing’s first Gele Mountain Capital Culture Exhibition Hall during the wartime relocation period, blending fitness, entertainment, and rich culture to showcase the boundless charm of Gele Mountain’s sports leisure tourism.

　　Sports and Fitness Activities

　　　　【Gele Ziplining】This activity evolved from mountaineering training exercises. It involves descending rapidly from a height using steel cables and harnesses. The "Gele Ziplining" course is currently the steepest fixed zip line in China, stretching 310 meters with a 55-meter drop. Participants can not only experience the thrilling rush of speeding through the dense forest but also enjoy a bird's-eye view of the beautiful forest park scenery.
　　【Gele Rock Climbing】Rock climbing is an emerging sport where humans challenge their limits and conquer nature, often referred to as the "ballet on the wall," and is highly favored by young people and mountaineering enthusiasts. The Gele Rock Climbing site features a total of 12 routes, including natural climbing paths and artificially built ones that meet international standards, offering varying degrees of difficulty. It is currently the largest outdoor rock climbing site in Southwest China, suitable not only for individual visitors but also for group activities organized by organizations and for hosting large-scale, formal competitions.
　　【Forest Off-road Go-Karting】With a unique mountain track totaling over 800 meters, this heart-pounding activity lets you speed through the jungle. The powerful engine delivers an exhilarating driving experience, and this most fashionable sport brings you the most cutting-edge thrill.
　　【Aerial Adventure Maze】It is Chongqing’s only forest exploration maze that combines aerial walkways and forest climbing. The walkway stretches 300 meters and includes 13 checkpoints. The entire course is full of ups and downs and winding paths. Visitors feel as if they are moving through the air and weaving through the forest. While searching for the path, overcoming obstacles, challenging nature, and conquering themselves, they will surely find simple joy.
　　【Mountain Biking】The area offers both professional and regular biking trails, allowing you to fully experience thrills and excitement deep in the forest. How could skilled riders miss out on such an excellent trail? Come on down now.
　　【Red Crag Adventure Course】This is an adventure activity built on the ridge of Lion Peak. As visitors climb, they not only experience excitement and thrills but also fully immerse themselves in the indomitable "Red Crag Spirit" of facing challenges head-on and persevering.
　　【Gele Eco Hiking Trails】Among the six newly built "Gele Eco Hiking Trails" are a "Growth Staircase" designed specifically for children, a love-themed "Hearts United Trail," a "Fairy Music Peak Trail" based on the beautiful legends of Gele Mountain, and a "Life Path" for reflecting on life... The starting points, endpoints, and along these six "Gele Eco Hiking Trails" are all equipped with signs engraved with knowledge about scientific fitness and hiking. Several rest platforms along the way are furnished with seating and feature relevant activities that emphasize and deepen the themes of each trail.

　　Leisure and Vacation Activities

　　　　【Lion Mountain Viewing Platform】Lion Peak, standing uniquely tall, has always been the best spot on Gele Mountain for taking in panoramic views and listening to the "Gele Lingyin." The scenic Gele Cloud-Watching Platform offers close-up views of the beautiful mountain scenery and the setting sun over the Jialing River, while also providing distant vistas of the Northern New Area and Yuzhong Peninsula. From the platform, one can see the entire cultural district and six universities, with a river meandering like a ribbon and the majestic Mountain City lying below, capturing all the splendid sights of Yuzhou. When a gentle breeze blows, you may hear the rustling of pine trees, melodious like orchestral strings. In stronger winds, the sound of pines echoing through the valley is like crashing waves or galloping horses—this is the famed "Gele Lingyin," one of the "Twelve Scenic Spots of Bayu."
　　【Gele Mountain Sightseeing Cable Car】It is Chongqing’s first tourist sightseeing cable car. It goes directly to Yunding Peak, the main peak of Gele Mountain, known as the "First Peak of Western Chongqing." The cable car is over 900 meters long, operates at a speed of 1 meter per second, and takes a total of 17 minutes. Riders in the cable car gondolas can enjoy lush, dense forest scenery while also overlooking the Jialing River and the urban landscapes of Shapingba, Jiangbei, and Yuzhong districts.

　　Reviews

　　　　Gele Mountain Forest Park is located in the central part of Shapingba District, 16 kilometers from the city center, covering a total area of 3,000 mu, with the main peak at an elevation of 693 meters. It is the highest among the peaks in the suburbs of Chongqing, known as the "First Peak of Western Chongqing" and reputed as the "Emerald of the Mountain City." In 2001, it was rated as a National "AA"-level tourist area, and in 2002, it was officially designated as a National "AAAA"-level tourist area by the China National Tourism Administration.
　　Gele Mountain got its name from the legend that "the Great Yu, having succeeded in taming the floods, summoned guests to sing and make music here." Its natural scenery combines mountains, waters, forests, springs, caves, clouds, and mists, presenting an image that is elegant, serene, rustic, and open. Numerous historical sites and mythological legends bestow infinite charm upon Gele Mountain. Ancient literary masters visited here to explore and compose poetry, leaving behind many famous works.

　　Other

　　　　Gele Mountain, a branch of the Jinyun Mountain range, is nationally renowned for its wartime capital relics and prisons such as Bai Mansion and Zhazidong. Especially after the widespread popularity of the novel "Red Crag" across the country, Gele Mountain has become an even more heroic mountain. With its verdant pines and cypresses and beautiful valleys, it offers stunning natural scenery. Along with the wartime capital relics and gardens on the mountain and the Gele Mountain Martyrs' Cemetery at its foot, it serves as a great destination for leisure and historical exploration during holidays. The Gele Mountain Scenic Area consists of three sections: the central area around the main peak, the "Lin Garden" (former residence of Chiang Kai-shek), and the Chongqing Martyrs’ Cemetery. The martyrs’ cemetery at the foot of the mountain includes historical sites such as the Sino-American Cooperative Organization and the prisons of Bai Mansion and Zhazidong. Spanning over 10 kilometers, this area is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, receiving 2 million domestic and international visitors annually and ranking as Chongqing’s most famous scenic site. On overcast days, visitors can also experience the unique "Clouds over the Summit." Chongqing is known as the Fog City, and Gele Mountain is often shrouded in fog, with low-hanging clouds creating a sea of mist. Standing atop the mountain, visitors see clouds racing across and surging waves of vapor. Though not as vast as the sea of clouds on Mount Emei, the view of "mist-covered mountains and pine-dotted slopes" offers a feeling as if entering a celestial realm.