In 1909 (the first year of Hsuan Tung in Ching Dynasty), Lee Chun - the naval commander in Kwangtung - led his fleet to circuit the Paracel Islands. He arrived at Woody Island, fired a salute then rose the yellow dragon flag of the Ch'ing, and engraved a stone monument which reads: "Lee Chun, Naval Commander in Kwangtung, circuited here."
　　 Lee Chun found that Japan had occupied Pratas Island in the same year when he passed the Pratas Islands. The Japanese mined guano, carried out fishing, and even built docks, a railway and factories. They left the island after the Chinese government protested to the Japanese Consulate.
　　 After that, Lee Chun circuited the Paracel Islands again. He explored the island and reefs, drilled wells, built houses and helped the residents to breed livestock and fishing. This showed that the Chinese government was determined to defend the island. Lee Chung held an exhibition of the South China Sea Islands in his mansion after he went back to Kwangtung. He exhibited photos, maps and special marine animals from the South China Sea. This made an important contribution to education in the field of coastal defense.