My monopod (and more often tripod) always goes in my hold baggage.
For reasons I cannot fathom I am always summoned back to the check in desk whenever my monopod in hold baggage goes through Chinese airport baggage screening. I know this and hang around the desk until summoned. I suspect they think it looks like a gun barrel, but I never get any explanation. It doesn't provoke the same reaction in Europe curiously, but maybe they see monopods more often.
However based on the Chinese reaction I never risk the monopod in hand baggage anywhere (it's a Gitzo, wasn't cheap, and I don't want to throw it away).