The northern, or Peking, "lion" is short, stocky, and furry, much like an oversized Pekinese. The head is constructed with papier-mache applied over a frame of wicker or bamboo and may weigh anywhere from three to eight kilos.
因此，北獅以北京狗為藍本，毛長、腿短、體積小，舞者須著貼滿毛的「獅裝」；這也是獅中的「小不點」，單人舞（以手為前爪）、雙人舞皆可，又稱「北京獅」。