Police will reopen an investigation into a Chinese girl's death after accusations of a cover-up caused widespread rioting in her hometown.

Ten criminal investigators and forensic experts will be sent to Wengan, a town in southwest China's Guizhou province, to further investigate the girl's death, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The initial police findings concluded that teenager Li Shufen, whose body was found in the river on June 22, committed suicide.

Upon hearing the report, thousands took to the streets, believing that police were covering up the girl's rape and murder.

They alleged that a high-ranking official's son was behind the crime.

During the riots, police and government buildings were set on fire. At least one person died and up to 150 others were injured in clashes with police, the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said.

Nearly 200 people were arrested.

Parts of the town were returning to normal on Tuesday, with residents shopping and walking around.

Shi Zongyuan, Wengan's Communist Party secretary, visited the area to stress "the importance of social stability", Xinhua said.