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)

ocelot

"...not just another bookstore"

"ocelot" in Berlin is really not just another bookstore. For example, here you can find children's books for Arabic refugees or even written in Inuktitut!

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Art & culture
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Coffee & tea

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Jun 25, 2025
Die Geisterschmiede Berlin

Die Geisterschmiede

The fall of Philosophy!

"Die Geisterschmiede" is a second-hand bookstore in Prenzlauer Allee in Berlin specializing in philosophy classics and world & regional German fairytales!

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Art & culture
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Shopping

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Jun 24, 2025

U2 Northwest

“Skyline” from the past

This yesterday's futuristic bridge on U2 Northwest is a beautiful historical monument today, promising a beautiful sunset if Berlin's in a good temper...

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Art & culture
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Relaxing

by

Cheong Kin

Man

Jun 24, 2025

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

Jun 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

Jun 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

Jun 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

Jun 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

Jun 6, 2025
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