groves. Locals also grew sugarcane and vegetables. Since the area was barely above sea level and subject to typhoons, levies were raised around the villages to protect them from the sea. From Pazhou, one could make out five signal towers, the largest being the Lion's Tower on an island halfway between Pazhou and the Humen Strait. These 9-story towers used signal fires to relay messages, and it was said they could be sent from Guangzhou to Beijing—a distance of about —in less than 24 hours. During his 1832 visit, Edmund Roberts noted that Pazhou was unsafe for foreigners, with locals beating anyone who entered certain areas. Xiaoguwei was more accommodating. During the First Opium War, the Battle of Whampoa was fought between British and Chinese forces on 2 March 1841. Even following the Opium Wars and into the 20th century, sailing vessels continued to stop at Pazhou though steamers began to call at Guangzhou directly. The Canton Fair has been located in Pazhou since its 104th session. Transportation Pazhou station, Xingangdong station and Modiesha station of Guangzhou Metro are located on the island. See also Haijin, Canton System, & Thirteen Factories Notes References . . . . External links Pazhou.net Canton Fair in Pazhou Revealing the East—Historical Pictures by Chinese and Western Artists 1750–1950 Haizhu District Islands of Guangzhou Age of Sail History of foreign trade in China Pearl River Delta Township-level divisions of Guangdong Subdistricts of the People's Republic of China