Skip to content

MJ05: Geographic Center of Taiwan 台灣地理中心 Mystery Cache

Hidden : 11/13/2016
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


The geographic center of Taiwan Island is located in Puli Township, Nantou County. In December, 1906, the Japanese Government--then controlling Taiwan--erected a stele at the geographic center after surveying the island.

The problem was...the coordinates were not correct (Something that geocachers can identify with). A few decades later, using more modern methods, the government of Taiwan located the true geographic center and erected a new stele. The former, incorrect marker was changed in 1979 to commemorate 山清水秀 "Green mountains, clear waters"--in other words, the area's beautiful scenery.

The posted coordinates are for the location of the former marker. The real cache coordinates are below:

N23° 58.YYY E120° 58.ZZZ

To find the cache, you must first go up, up, up (hint!) and locate the true stele for the geographic center of Taiwan. On that monument is an engraved inscription written in Chinese. The Chinese is written in columns. Count the number of columns of writing to find "X".

X = The number of columns of Chinese writing engraved on the true stele. Use "X" to solve the following equations:

YYY = (9X + 11X) - (2X - 3)

ZZZ = YYY + 11X + 13X + 34

Check your answer at GeoCheck

GeoCheck.org

This is a small camo container, bigger than a micro, but not big enough for TBs or swag. Please bring your own pen.


The MJ in the title stands for mahjong, a popular game in Taiwan and one of my passions. The geocaches in this MJ series relate to mahjong in some way.

As the center point on Taiwan Island, this cache represents the Red Center tile 紅中牌 (known as "red dragon" in English).

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Nobhg 2.5 zrgref hc va ebggvat gerr. Frr TrbPurpx.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)