Tibet was a kingdom time-locked into the Middle Ages, the inspiration of Western myths of Shangri-La. But in 1959 the dreams of the looking-glass world were shattered - the Dalai Lama fled and Peking assumed complete control. Tibetan belief and culture was brutally crushed. But now changes are in the air. China admits mistakes have been made and is wooing the Dalai Lama. Philip Short, former BBC Correspondent in Peking, investigates Tibet's wheel of fortune and asks whether the God King will return to Tibet.