How to create this video
- 01Upload one photoOne person standing, full body or at least down to the knees, with the face clearly visible, sharp and well lit.
- 02Create the videoConfirm you have the person's permission and select Create video. 500 credits are held for the job and returned if it fails.
- 03Download and postSave the MP4 from Library; it already has the tutorial audio, so post it as it is or cut it into a skit.
Does the Shan Shen Bu AI video come with sound?
Yes. Unlike most LeafReel effects, the Shan Shen Bu AI video keeps the spoken announcement from the original tutorial, so the steps land right after the call-out. To use a different sound on TikTok or Reels, mute the clip's audio in the editor and pick another track. The included audio is part of the meme format and does not grant any music or broadcast rights.
What does shan shen bu mean, and where is the original video from?
Shan shen bu (闪身步) means "flash-body step": the dancer slips the upper body to one side as if dodging something, then recovers. The step is a basic move of huagudeng, the flower-drum lantern dance from the Huai River region of Anhui. The meme comes from a folk-dance teaching video recorded around 2018 at the Beijing Dance Academy, in which professor Zhao Tiechun names each move and then demonstrates it with complete seriousness. The video resurfaced on Chinese short-video apps in September 2026; the same tutorial also gave the internet "gou xiong duo suo mao" (the bear shaking its fur, from Shandong guzi yangge) and "lang zi ti qiu" (the wanderer kicks the ball). On TikTok, people use the step in skits to dodge a kick, a boss or a chore. A Shan Shen Bu AI video on LeafReel generates a new solo performance by the person in your photo; it does not show the professor.
- What is 'shan shen bu', China's new meme? (AsiaOne)
- Shan Shen Bu / Shanshenbu (Know Your Meme)
- 闪身步 and huagudeng background (Guangming Online, Chinese)
Also searched as: shanshenbu, shan sheng bu, 闪身步, shan shen bu meme, shan shen bu meaning, shan shen bu original video, Chinese flash step, Chinese dance meme.
How are people using shan shen bu in skits?
The classic skit is a dodge: film yourself being asked for a favor, then cut to your Shan Shen Bu AI video as the reply. Other ideas are a "me avoiding Monday" post, one video per coworker for the team chat, or an office-outfit photo next to a gym-outfit one. Each new photo is a new 500-credit video; Creator works out to $5.00 per video and Pro to $4.29.
Photo tips
- One person only in the photo
- Face clearly visible for the opening close-up
- Full body or at least down to the knees, so the footwork shows
- A standing pose works better than sitting
- The clothes in the photo are the clothes in the video
- Anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian's permission; no celebrities or public figures
Effect details
- Input
- 1 photo of one person
- Duration
- 8 s
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 horizontal
- Resolution
- 480p
- Audio
- original tutorial announcement included
- Cost
- 500 credits
- Failed job
- credits returned automatically
Frequently asked questions
Upload one photo of a person on the Shan Shen Bu AI page and select Create video. The finished 8-second clip already has the tutorial audio, so you can download it from Library and post it directly.
Shan shen bu. The Chinese is 闪身步: shǎn (flash, dodge), shēn (body), bù (step). "Shan sheng bu" is a common misspelling.
The original is a Beijing Dance Academy folk-dance tutorial taught by professor Zhao Tiechun; reuploads circulate on YouTube and TikTok. LeafReel does not host it; the AI video is a new performance by the person in your photo.
Not on LeafReel. One video takes 500 credits, and the free trial is one watermarked 1K image, not a video. The lowest entry price is the $9.90 One Video pack; a failed job returns its credits.
500 credits. The $9.90 One Video pack has 600 permanent credits: one video plus 100 credits for the image models. Upgrade to Creator within 7 days and the $9.90 counts toward the first month; Creator works out to $5.00 per video and Pro to $4.29.
Not in one video. The effect makes a solo performance from one photo. For a dodge skit, film the other person yourself and cut to the AI video.
No. The steps, the timing and the audio are built in; you only upload a photo.
They come from the same tutorial but are different moves. This effect performs the shan shen bu dodge step only.
A child, yes, with a parent or guardian's permission. Photos of celebrities and public figures are not allowed.
If generation or sound mixing fails, the 500 credits go back to your balance automatically.
No. LeafReel is an independent service with no link to the Beijing Dance Academy or professor Zhao Tiechun.