AHC: Dalai Lama Regime leads China?

Under what circumstances could a Dalai Lama-imperial regime emerge in China prior to the Qing dynasty?

Depending on your answer, how would your chosen PoD effect the Chinese political situation at the turn of the 20th century?
 
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Best change is probably on 9th or 10th centuries. Problem is only that office of Dalai Lama wasn't exist yet. And I am not sure would it still appear with such POD. But on this time Tibet was strong enough that it could capture China.
 
You'd need the Mongols to both regain influence in China, one, and two, the Dalai Lama to emerge in the first place as a powerful institution, and of course spread the Gelug school at the same time. The Qing end up as heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism as the Mongols did? The Yuan reconquering China in the 16th/17th century or so? It seems insanely difficult.
 
It isn't the Dalai Lama, but here's a thought: After the Anshi Rebellion, the Tibetan Empire launched multiple raids into Sichuan, even taking the capital of Chang'an at one point. However, they were repulsed by Tang forces soon after. Given the weak state of the Tang at the time, perhaps the Tibetans are able to hold Western China, and eventually conquer China? This could be coupled with an earlier period of disunity similar to the five dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
 
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