According to legends, Gele Mountain obtained its name from ancient times when Yu the Great (Chinese: 大禹; pinyin: Dà Yǔ, c. 2200 – 2101 BC) supposedly invited guests to sing and dance on the mountain to celebrate the success of controlling local floods.

[1] Due to its mountainous landscapes and lush green forests, which consist mostly of pine and cypress, Geleshan is poetically referred to as the "Emerald Fortress" (Chinese: 山城绿宝石; pinyin: Shānchéng Lǜbǎoshí).

Natural features of the park also include prairie meadows, streams, springs, caves, and waterfalls.

[citation needed] Geleshan Park includes a cable car ride, a cultural exhibition hall ("Martyr’s Mausoleum"), a canopy walkway, a fishing club, rock climbing, forest obstacle courses, and forest cross country karting.

Other attractions include Chinese chess themed structures, and a "fairyland" exhibit where visitors can watch and listen to famous fairytales.