Cheong Kin Man

Berlin

Spotter since 2020

About me

About me

Obsessed with languages and the aesthetics of East Germany, I have been learning a bunch of German dialects and random languages and have built up my own collection of German books published from the 19th century to the present day. As a translator and visual anthropologist, I reflect every day on life with writings, together with my daily instagramming: I am also a freelance critic who mainly focuses on how understanding language can change one’s world vision and how to tell a visual story.

I know many parts of the city - this is thanks to my random enrollments in different language courses at the Volkshochschulen across East and West Berlin. I have been living in Prenzlauer Berg since 2017 and will soon move to Kreuzberg. As a born-and-raised Macanese, I have also lived in China, Portugal, Belgium and Singapore. I speak reasonably well Cantonese, Mandarin, English, French, Portuguese and German.

Why Berlin

It would not seem to be too exaggerated if I said Berlin is a continent apart – the German capital city is not really only German, nor even plainly European. As a symbol of freedom after the Berlin Wall’s – and subsequently, the East German regime’s too – fall in the end of the 1980s, the city has become a completely separate “republic”: the German bureaucracy is still impressively complex that it is a headache even for the Germans themselves, the North-German cold faces still cover their warm hearts, the Berliners from Berlin still talk German with a strong accent, but along with a bunch of international languages spoken by a very diverse group of different cultures – a daily musical to celebrate the cultural diversity of the city. Berlin is clubbing, Berlin is reading, Berlin is – all too simply – living life and history: a huge well-composed cultural traffic jam is Berlin’s proud-to-be character, which marks it different from other major European capitals. It is just hard to tell why I love Berlin in a few short lines.

*picture taken by Mona Ruzicka.

Where else can you find me online?

My spots (20)

Oxfam Schöneberg

International books for charity

"Oxfam Schöneberg" in Berlin deals in second-hand books! It offers a surprisingly interesting variety of international books...

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025

Unterwegs

Best alternative souvenirs

"Unterwegs" is a magnificent antiquarian bookstore specialised in architecture, photography, Berlin-Brandenburg and travel. Very aesthetically pleasing!

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025

Buchhandlung Moritzplatz

In Kreuzberg’s heart

"Buchhandlung Moritzplatz" in Berlin is hosted by Aufbau Verlag, once the biggest belles-lettres publisher in Easy Germany and still one of my favorites!

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025

Troika

Only on Spotted by Locals

"Troika" is a nice little bookshop among the Prenzlauer Berg bars and restaurants. It's a little nostalgic treasure - you're lucky if you find it open!

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025
Mauerpark’s Books Berlin

Mauerpark’s Books

Time to bargain!

"Mauerpark’s Books" in Berlin is perfect for old book lovers - and people who like bargaining for the best price!

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Art & culture
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Relaxing
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025

a Livraria

Italian and Portuguese books

"a Livraria" in Berlin gives the street it's one a nice Latin American vibe. An essential shop for Portuguese and Italian language readers in the city...

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025

Prior & Mumpitz

Bookstore surrounded by 5 cafés

"Prior & Mumpitz" in Berlin is a tiny bookstore next to a ping pong table area specialized in children books - they even have a children's book club!

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025

Moby Dick

To make a street complete with books

"Moby Dick" in East Berlin makes the street it's on complete: apart from everything else, you can also eat & drink intellectually at this book store!

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Art & culture
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Snacks

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Apr 6, 2025
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