下马看花

idiom

to dismount from one's horse to look at the flowers; fig. to spend a relatively long time conducting in-depth investigation and research at the grassroots level

Often contrasted with 走马观花 (zǒu mǎ guān huā, 'to glance at flowers from horseback'), which implies making only superficial observations. This idiom emphasizes thorough, on-the-ground research.