As Typhoon Bavi lashed Shanghai with powerful winds, the 1,000-tonne tuned mass damper (TMD), a device mounted in structures to reduce mechanical vibrations, inside the 632-meter Shanghai Tower swung into action.

The damper moved by as much as two meters, absorbing the building's sway.

Designed to withstand strong winds and earthquakes, the TMD offers a fascinating glimpse into the engineering systems that protect one of the world's tallest buildings.

Boasting an impressive 128 floors above ground and five levels below ground, the Shanghai Tower is the tallest skyscraper in China and the third tallest building in the world.