HAVANA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Leading figures and dancers from Cuba's National Ballet (BNC) have embarked on a four-city tour of China, where they will stage famed classic Don Quixote from Nov. 16 to 28.

According to a statement by the BNC, the troupe will visit the cities of Hefei, Wuxi, Shanghai and Dalian, offering Chinese audiences a chance to see one of the world's leading classical dance companies interpret a favorite work.

Don Quixote, based on the novel by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, will be performed by BNC star dancers Grettel Morejon, Sadaise Arencibia, Ginett Moncho, Dani Hernandez, Rafael Quenedit, and Raul Abreu.

The BNC, directed by legendary Cuban dancer Alicia Alonso, has performed in China on six occasions, the first time in 1960, when the troupe met with then Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

"Cultural relations between China and Cuba have been marked by constant visits by our company to that nation to perform for an audience that enjoys our art," the company said.

The Cuban staging of Don Quixote debuted on July 6, 1988, at Havana's Grand Theater.

Alonso, about to turn 98, carefully choreographed the ballet, paying particular attention to folk references and preserving the essence of Don Quixote, considered one of the greatest works of literary fiction.