City of Suzhou: Sculpture (statue) of Fan Zhongyan (989 - 1052) at the square in front of railway station; near Pingmen Gate; at night; Fan Zhongyan was a Chinese poet; politician; philosopher; writer; and military strategist. Fan was one of the most prominent figures of Song dynasty (960 - 1279); an era; when China possessed the world's largest economy and population. His courtesy name was Xiwen; ratified as Duke of Wenzheng posthumously; and conferred as Duke of Chu posthumously. Suzhou is a big city in Jiangsu Province; East China; 100 km northwest of Shanghai; Suzhou is on the Lake Tai Plain south of the Yangtze River. Founded in 514 BC; Suzhou has many sites of historical interest.