Two beluga whales performing at a Shanghai aquarium will soon be flown to an open-water sanctuary in Iceland. The whales made their last public appearance on Thursday, ahead of the 9000-kilometer journey. Their destination - the world's first sanctuary for belugas. Lin Nan has our next story.

A sentimental farewell, and a promising new beginning. Little White and Little Grey, two beluga whales are performing their last show at Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World. They will be flown to the world's first sanctuary for beluga whales in Iceland this spring.

XU MING AUDIENCE "Keeping the whales here is certainly more convenient for us, and we can come and watch them from time to time. But for the whales, it is better to return to nature, that's where they belong to."

"Nature is their home."

The two belugas are originally from the Arctic Ocean. It is thought they were two or three years old when captured.

LIN NAN SHANGHAI "This show is the beluga whales' last public appearance. They need to go through a lot of preparation ahead of the 9,000-kilometer journey to Iceland. They'll also have to get used to the open-water sanctuary."

The whales are being trained to hold their breath longer, become physically stronger to resist tides and currents, and are putting on fat to cope with colder water temperatures. The 30-hour transfer will involve stretchers and specially-built transportation tanks. They'll move by truck, chartered flight and then ferry. They will then be assessed in a care pool before being released into the sanctuary.CATHERINE SHEN, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING MIDWAY CHINA MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS "Beluga whales are very sensitive. We will strictly control the outside influence on them to make sure they can go through their journey smoothly and get used to the new environment. The public can check their updates on our official channel."

There will be care facilities on land, monitoring and assessing the whales on a regular basis. Before the whales start their new lives, many locals are sending well wishes.LIN MIN AUDIENCE "We come to watch the whale show all the time. It is good for them, after all this pool is a bit small for them. I've recorded the whole show, and we can watch it when we miss them. I wish them a safe journey and happy life in Iceland."

The departure date for the whales is not yet confirmed. Experts will make the call based on their physical conditions and weather. Lin Nan, CGTN, Shanghai.