The Taiwanese lion features a heavy head; solid martial arts skills are needed to handle it properly, thus the Taiwanese lion is a "martial lion." This is different from the Cantonese-style lion that features prominently in the Hong Kong movie Once Upon a Time in China. This latter is more ornate and playful, and the performers can bound with it across the tops of high posts.
其特色是獅頭厚重，舞獅者須有紮實的武術根底，屬於「武獅」；這和香港電影《黃飛鴻》中，那種獅頭造型立體華麗、活潑逗趣，而且可以踩著梅花樁飛躍翻騰的「廣東獅」（醒獅）不同。