Chinese media says the remains of former Premier Li Keqiang will be cremated in Beijing on Thursday.

Li died in Shanghai last Friday at the age of 68.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday that his remains have been transferred to Beijing.

The report also said flags across the country will fly at half-mast to mourn his death, including in places such as Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People.

Li served as premier for two five-year terms from 2013 and stepped down in March. In October last year, he was not reappointed as a member of the ruling Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, even though he had not reached the effective retirement age.

People have paid their respects to Li and offered flowers in the former premier's hometown of Hefei, Anhui Province.

Searches related to Li temporarily topped the rankings on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some posts have been restricted, making messaging related to him impossible.

The Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping is apparently wary that public reactions to Li's death could lead to anti-government protests, at a time when the country's economic outlook is uncertain.