The National Audit Office says it will look into a case in which a Hebei auditor allegedly died after a boozy banquet thrown by a government department that was being audited.
The office said on its website it was 'shocked' to read news reports that Zhang Hongtao, 25, died in front of a hotel in Yanshan county, Cangzhou, after banquets thrown by the county's Electricity Bureau.
An investigation was under way to find out who was responsible, it said.
Zhang was found collapsed at the wheel of his car and gasping for breath on April 11, according to mainland media.
Elder brother Zhang Hongjiang told the China Youth Daily that his brother had told him the Electricity Bureau had held banquets for the auditing team for a number of days. Zhang attended another department banquet just before he died, the report said.
Mr Zhang said his brother had drunk heavily the night before he died and was feeling unwell. But he insisted on going to the banquet because he feared his absence would upset his boss, Mr Zhang said.