利用每个option的value属性
<select id="select_id">
<option value="北京市">北京市</option>
<option value="广州市">广州市</option>
<option value="上海市">上海市</option>
</select>
<script>
$("#select_id option[value='广州市']").attr("selected", true);
</script>
或者利用select标签的val()方法
<html>
<body>
<select id="select_id">
<option value="01">北京市</option>
<option value="02">广州市</option>
<option value="03">上海市</option>
</select>
<script language=JavaScript src="../js/jquery.js"></script>
<script>
$("#select_id").val("02");
</script>
</body>
</html>