Chinese police have confirmed the death of Galway man Robert McHale and said the 23-year-old English teacher's family was due in Jiaxing.
Police told The Irish Times that no details of the circumstances of Mr McHale’s death would be released until the family had been informed of the situation.
A Chinese friend of the dead man said Mr McHale had been missing since Monday but she declined to give any more information until the family’s arrival.
Jiaxing is near China's financial capital of Shanghai in the east of the country.
The General Consulate in Shangahi is providing consular assistance to the family.
According to web postings by his family seeking assistance, the man went missing on Monday, but all his belongings were intact in his apartment.