Luoyang Bridge represents the country's pinnacle of engineering in the Song-Yuan period (960-1368). [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]

Led by the government, construction of this transportation hub-connecting the port and hinterland-lasted six years. It involved participation of all levels of society, according to the stone steles written by great Song Dynasty calligrapher Cai Xiang, who then served as an official in Quanzhou. He recorded in minute detail how the bridge was planned and constructed, and what resources it took to finish this project.

Decades after Cai's death, a temple was erected beside the bridge to honor him, which is still a place of worship today.

Oysters still thrive under the bridge. They do not need to function as a glue like their ancestors, and people today can finally enjoy them at the dining table.

The city's lowliest living things once played a vital part in, quite literally, supporting Quanzhou's grand maritime ambitions. Now, centuries later, their descendants provide sustenance for those that help maintain that heritage.

Hu Meidong contributed to this story.