Can a graphical user interface apply for a design patent?

Yes.

According to the provisions in the Patent Examination Guidelines: For product designs including graphical user interfaces, the overall product design view should be submitted. If the graphical user interface is a dynamic pattern, the applicant shall submit at least one state of the above overall product design view, and may only submit key frame views for the remaining states. The submitted view shall be able to uniquely determine the changing trend of the animation in the dynamic pattern.