In this photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, ahead of the upcoming Chinese lunar new year of the Snake, following the the Chinese zodiac, a genetically modified, auspicious, white snake is displayed at the altar at the the Temple of White Snakes in Taoyuan county, in north western Taiwan. Director of the temple Lo Chin-shih said the new year of the snake would be a time of steady progress, in contrast to the more turbulent nature of the outgoing year of the dragon. The Chinese new year fall on Feb. 10. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
