Hey there,

Yes, you can absolutely do a day trip from Beijing to Datong and visit the Yungang Grottoes in one day!

Just hop on a high-speed train from Beijing North Station (or Qinghe Station) to Datong South Station. The train ride only takes about 2 hours. Once you arrive at Datong South, you can catch a tourist shuttle bus to the Yungang Grottoes, which is about a 45-minute ride. The shuttle bus ticket costs just 10 yuan. Alternatively, you can take a taxi for around 60 yuan if you prefer a faster option.

After you visit the Grottoes, you can head back to the city center to check out a few more highlights in Datong. Then, just take the train back to Beijing the same day.

So yeah, it’s totally doable, and you won’t have to rush!